Chain bracelet and clasp



March 13, 1928. 1,662,451Y

C. H. BATCHELDER IGHAIN BRACELET AND CLAASP Filed March 28, 1925 A 5 IN VEN TOR. HG. /4 fi' m, ff. Hannan,

ATTORNEYS.

iatented Mar. 13, 1928.

muriel) stares relie e. y

rArENr- CHARLES. n ABA'rcnnLnnn-nF NORTH Am'rnnnono,-Massaenn'snrr'rs," .assrenon To WALLAeEFRANKLInrCLARENCE w. risrinn.. ann nii-reni n; interina; comma:u

NERS DOINGBUSINESS UNDER-NAMEOF'E FRANKLIN & CO.. GFNORTH BORO, MASSAC'HUSET'IS.V

y CHAINBRACELET Ann eLAsPJ My invention is a chain bracelet, in which each linkiis a complete unit, carrying at one end a cross-ban and at the other end a tongue, the bar lserving to cooperate With the tongue of an` adjacent klink and the tongue servingto cooperate with the bar of an adjacent link. i 4

My invention alsofincludes a novel locking mechanism to connect the ends of the chain or braceletin such fashion that accidental unlocking is almost impossible, While intentional unlocking is extremely easy. It will beobvious -that `this part. of my'invention may also be advantageously applied to conncctingthe ends of 'necklaces and the like.

In the drawings Fig'ure 1 is a plan-view of the blank which the unit link is formed;

Figure 2 is anend View of Figure 1;

j Figure 3 is an elevation of the blank the first shaping bend; v

Figure 4 is a similar view after thesecond shaping bend;

from

after Figure 5 isa similar view after the third shaping bend; showing the tongue engaged with the bar of an adjacent link; Y

Figure 6 shows in elevation a completed link engaged with an adjacent link;

Figure 7 is aplan View of the hook-clasp member;

Figure 8 isfsectional plan view, on line 8-8 of Figure 9, ofthe hook-clasp member and the `detent-'clasp member, in engagement;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the two clasp members;

Figure 10 is a detail vieWon an enlarged scale of the detent spring;

Figure 11 is a Vdetail View on an enlarged scale of the detent;

Figure 12 is a plan View of the upper or outer surface of a part ofbracelet or the like;

Figure 13 is a view of the right hand end of the link of Figures 4, 5, 7, S or 9; and

Figures 14 and 15 are views of a modified form ofthe hinge connection.

It is an ob'ect of my invention to produce, from sheet metal, usually precious met-al, by one stamping operation, a blank which Will carry tivo cooperating parts for joining ad-l jacent links, each link being thus a complete unit, so far as connecting means are concerned, the said blank,'by the single opera tion being pierced or otherwise ornamented at one part and cut into a frame or skeleton form at another j )art and being ,suitably shaped and designed to foldinto boi: form,

with one of each pair of connecting means at each end of the box, the outer surface of the folded bon link, being the pierced or ornamented surface andthe inner part of the box link, being thev skeleton formation, the object being to give an appearance of thickness, weight and soliditywith the use of the minimum amount ofnietal and to provide a unitrwhicli can ybe connected to other similar units to forni a chain of any desired length. I

lt will be obvious that such' a link-unit is of elementary simplicity in formation, one operation providing a link and complete connecting means and also the ornamental surface desirable for a bracelet link, Without separate pintles orfpintle lugs. It WillV be further obvious that the'complete link-forni ing operation, comprising'one.'stamping and the successive folding operations are of the simplest, and capable of rbeingcarried out by unskilled labor, conducing to economy of n'ianufacture and assembly.

I have shown in Figure 1 of the drawings a planviewofa link blank. The ornamental (or outer) part of the link is `indicated at 1, and ait/the free end of 1 is .shown a tongue 2. The piercing` or ornan'iental work is indicated in the drawing. It is obvious of course that instead -ofpiercing the sheet metal it might be embossed or' otherwise shaped. Part 1 is connectedA at the end opposite to the tongue 2 to theend of the rear or frame member 8, `the material between the tWo members, 1 and '3 being slotted at @i to segregate a bar 5,. f The bar 5, in the stamping operation, is pressed outward. for easy en gagem'ent, as indicated inthe various figures. The cross member 7 at the free end of 3 is preferablyslightly indented at Shen the unthe bar 5 of an adjacent link, and Figure 6 shows the tongue Q again bent or folded back against the under surface of the member 7, and laid in the depression 8 of the Cil link of which the hook is a part, to give a smooth under surface.

A chain or bracelet; o1 any desired length may be formed by connecting in this manner several units, and the completed chain will show upon itsy outer surface the ornamental side ot' the link, the connecting means being substantially invisible. Thel completed chain will. require the minimum amount ot metal and calls for uo separate connecting links or pintles, each link being a self contained unit.

In Figures 7, S and 9, l show the clicl or latch elements, by means of which the ends of a chain bracelet or necklace may be securely joined without danger oli' becoming disconnected. The connection of the ends of bracelets and necklaces has hitherto been a weakness. the connecting means being ot 11ecessity small and fragile and frequently un able to resist the strains to which they were subjected in useT especially atter they were somewhat worn. A common 'iorm ot click or clasp was a bolt on one end ot the chain extending in the direction of' the length ot the chain. which entered an aperture in the end member of' the other end of the chains and was then in some manner engaged. Strain longitudiinilly of the chain. which is the direction ot most strains on bracelets and neck chains.l tended to disconnect such clicks or clasps, the engaging means being usually springs engaging the bolt1 in some fashion or the bolt might be replaced by a spring member. ctnnpressed to enter the cooperating aperture and springing out to engage a shoulder or the like.

ln my new clasp or click one end member of the chain is provided with a hook l() ly ing crosswise of the chain and preferably parallel with the outer and inner surfaces ot the chain. the hook being created by forming a slot l0 in a projecting tlat member. The front. surface ot" this hook is provided with a detent notch ll.. The, cooperating end piece l2 is provided with open side apertures 1Q, l2", opening l2 receiving the hook. The end wall iQ ot the end piece l2 is also slotted at 12C as indicated in Fig. S, in which the hook '10 tills the slot l2" and the nnslot'ted part ol the end wall l2" is shown in section. 'lhe end piece l2 is also provided with a pivoted detent i3. nmfmally pressed toi-.ward by a spring lt. the Yfree end lil ot the detent projecting outside the end piece l2 through opening l2".

lt will be observed that one clasp member is provided with a bar 5, through which a tongue Q of the adjacent link connects, while the detent clasp member has a tongue 2 which engages the bar 5 ot the adjacent link.

To connect; the t-Wo ends, the point of the hook l0 is passed into the open side aperture 1Q and pressed in until the detcnt. 13 drops into the notch l1. The inner end Wall 12d of the detent link is slotted at l2", as best indicated in Figure 8, so that the forward end ll. of the hook ltl passes .inside the end wall ot' the detent link (see Figure S). liongitudinal strains on the chain are taken by the hook l0 and end wall 12d with practica| ly no strain upon the spring detent, which resists only Istrains tending to withdraw the hook sidewise trom the link, which strains are relatively slight and infrequent. 'l`hc clasp may be opened by operating the detent 13 by means of the tree end .t1. thus releasing the hook l() which may he l'rcely withdrawn transversely of the claim.

lt will be noted that this clasp ol` very te and simple parts and that the greatest and most frequent strains are resisted by the whole .strength ot the metal connecting the hook to the body oi the hook link and the de` tent link with which it is engaged, the entire organization being characterized by ample strength and great simplicity.

ln the drawings l have shown the link blank (Figure l) with what will he its inside surface uppermost and in l"i; f.1re A T. Fw and 9 l have shown th'.` links` with thc outer ornamented surface downward and. where necessary as in l"igure 8, the. inner part ot' the link removed to expose the mechanism. For purposes of clearness, in `Figures T and Si, l have indicated the ornzunemation upon the t'ront panel l. in dotted lines, to make clear that the ornanientation is seen through a 'trame lormed by the aides 2i. oi' the back or inner side ot the link.

ln Figuresl land l5 l .show a .slight modification of the cross bar T. beneath which the tongue Q is bent and laid in the depression Fi'. .ln this` modification an additional indentation 7l is termed, designed, when the link in final form to bring the tace ot the bar into contact with the inner tace ot the Vfront panel l. so as to atlord snp port to that end ot the link against pressure perpeiulicular to the tace ot the link.

l claim:

ln a chain bracelet or the like. a cl:1.-p made up oi" two box members. having front.y back and end walls. one. box having also a slot in the free end wall ot the bo?.Y and carrying within the box a lspring detcnt. swinging' transversely in the plane oi` the t1-ont and back walls of the box and haring a linger piece projecting without the box, the other box member carrying a flat transverse hook at its tree end. lying in the plane of the front and back walls. thc hook hav ing a detentnotch in its forward side to co. operate with the spring detent and a hook forming recess at its rear side to rcccivc a portion ot the end wall of the other bor: member.

Signed at North ittt'leboro, Massacluuetts. this 26th day o't March. 1925.

CHARLES H. BTClllLDElt.

lltl

lla) 

